Starch for laundry and other purposes



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT W. TRAYLOR, OF RICHMOND VIRGINIA.

STARCH FOR LAUNDRY AND OTHER PURPOSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,108, dated April25, 1882. Application filed March 15, 1882. (No specimens.)

To all whom rt may concern 'Be it known that LRoEERT W. TRAYLOR, acitizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county ofHenrico and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Starch for Laundry and other Purposes, of which the following is aspecification.

' My invention relates to an improvement in the manufacture ofstarch-gloss for laundry purposes; and it consists of a new compositionof matters which I termmica-starch, the said compound being composed offinelypowdered mica combined with ordinary starch, and with or withoutthe admixture of gumarabic or other like substance, as hereinafter morefully set forth.

Heretofore mica in the form of scales having perceptibly flat surfaceshas been combined with solutions of starch, glue. gum, and othertransparent or translucent adhesive substance, glycerine being sometimesadded to said mixture, which is applied in a liquid state, by means ofbrushes or other suitable means, to surfaces of paper, cloth, wood,metals, and other materials, for'the purpose of ornamenting the same bycausing the micascales to adhere to said surfaces, which may then beprinted upon, embossed, or otherwise treated as may be desired. This,however, differs from my invention in several particulars, viz: In themanufacture of my improved laundry-gloss or mica-starch the mica,instead of being employed in the form of scales, is reduced'to a stateof minute division prior to its incorporation with ordinary dry starch,and the compound, which is designed especially for laundry purposes, isnot discolored until it is required for use. I employ gumarabic or othersimilar material merely for the purpose of giving body to the compound,and such material may therefore be dispensed with, if desired. Inpractice, however, I prefer to employ all of said ingredients, and inabout the following-named proportions-that is to say, nine andone-quarter (93;) ounces of finelypowdered mica, six.(6) ounces ofstarch, and three-quarters (2%) of an ounce of gum-arabic, the Wholeforming one pound of mica-starch.

The several ingredients employed in the manufacture of this compound arefirst separately reduced to a fine powder by any suitable means, and arethen thoroughly mixed, in

a dry condition, in about the proportions above stated. If thegum-arabic or other like substanceis omitted, as before indicated,theproportionate quantity of either the mica or starch may be increasedaccordingly, or an increase may be made in both for the purpose ofproducing a definite quantity of the compound.

This article of mica-starch is valuable for imparting a gloss tolaundered fabrics, and when used for such purposes is employed in thesame manner as ordinary starch. It is also applicable for use in coatingthe surfaces of various materials, and owing to the finelypowderedcondition of its ingredients it iscapable of penetrating and beingabsorbed by paper, linen, wood, leather, and the like, so as to renderthe same impervious to oils and grease of all kinds. This property ofthe micastarch is of special advantage when the compound is used forlaundry purposes, as articles of clothing and similar fabrics treatedtherewith may thereby be kept in a cleanly condition for long periods.The finely-pulverized condition of the mica combined with the starchprecludes the liability of its being merelydeposited upon the surface ofthe fabric, whence it is likely to peel, as would be the case if it wereemployed in the form of scales, however thinly split.

By the employment of my improved laundry-gloss or mica-starch a whitepearly luster is produced on linen and similar fabrics with out injurythereto, and with the effect of cansing said luster or gloss to remainunimpaired for a long time.

What I claim is- 1. As a new article of manufacture, a starchgloss ormica-starch for laundry purposes, composed of finely-powdered mica andordinary starch, with or without the admixture of gumarabic or othermaterial, substantially as speci- 2. The herein-described composition ofmatter, consisting of finely-powdered mica, ordi nary starch, andgum-arabic, in' about the proportions and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereot'l have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing wit I nesses.

R. W. TRAYLOR. Witnesses ALBERT H. NORRIS, JAMES A. RUTHERFORD.

